Caster socket for tubular legs



NOV. 14, 1933. w HEROLD CASTER SOCKET FOR TUBULAR LEGS Filed Feb. 17, 1933 Quorum} "45- i'n vertical z-se'ction, of a rlarger than thatshownrin Figs. lzto .4, and inwvhichthe top and b positionedin thecut' outs, and

Patented Nov. 14, 1933 "ICASTER' sooner rosi rnrsumatnos'i t alter F. Herold, Bridgeport,' Conn assignor to The Bassick Company,

iBridg'eport, Co'nn.,-'a

-corprati0n' of Connecticut, p

' Application February e,=1933, ssa1 No:657;194

. QClainis. (eras-:39)

. The presentinvention relates to caster sockets,

:particularly' for use in tubular metal legs, and N has for an object toprovide a socket of extremely simpleicons'truction,which may be easily inserted &'51:in;the.le'g:and will be retained therein firmly.

iiAnotheriobject :is 'to provide a socket having a ispring retainingmember of such construction-and .:arrangement':.that-it will firmly hold the socket :inpla'ce'andagainst looseness, and in'the event of 'brea'kagewill continue to function eiiectually.

...J&;further object is to provide a socket construc- 'tio'n i'nlwhich-a spring element of a given size may .1;:beiused with :a plurality of difierent diameters :socktsgsothatwith a few sizes of springelev. 1'511ments a'relatively'large number of diameters of :socketsnmay: beprovided; without the tool and Lmanuiacturingexpensethat would be attendant 1 auponiproducingra different. sized sprin'g element for every diameter of socket. A still further obidectris'toiprovide.aisocket in which the spring ele- ;ment;nray.zbe ieasil y assembled by hand, so that.

iin shippingitheisoc'ketsi the spring elements may I ;::be packed :separately;

sockets by the user. This is particularlyimportant'iwl'i'ereiitris' desirable to ishipthe, sockets in --bulk,3thatiis,iailarge' number of the sockets loosely izpl'acedxnvithout" rapping; in a single container. .;With:'.the :above andother objects .inview,

- :E emb'odiments' 101": the invention are shown .in :the

80 accompanying drawing and these embodiments twill be hereinafter more fully described :with

ILIBIBIGIICE thereto, andthe'inventionwill be-finally ipointed .outin the claims; lncthe drawingz. I .1 eFigIl is :a front elevation of acastersocket,

-zfacco'riiin'g :to the illustrated exemplary embodizmenti'of rtheiinvention, the same being inserted in iaitubu'lar leg; shown :partiallyin vertical section,

czanditheicasteribeing insertedin the Socket.

540 :-.iFig. .2iisia vertical sectional View of thesocket,

cremovedlfromthe'leg. c Fig. 3 is a sideelevation thereof. N1::Eiggisatopplanvie f --Fig. 5eis'a view,fhalf in irontielevation and .half diameter socket same spring selementris employed, 'aFigxfi is'aitop.plan viewrthereof.

Figl'lsis a view,,:h'a'1f; in front elevation and half rinvertical section, of :a smaller diameter socket;

I employing a smaller size spring element,than that :shown'inFigsfll to' d I I Figf8= is aside elevation thereof. FFig; 9 is a top plan v'i'ew. x

in vertical section, =of a larger diameter socket than that -illustrated in'Figs. 7 t'o 9, "but employand assembled with the Ti-g. 10 1s a view,'half in summarised hair 1 Sirriilarrference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures. of the drawing.- V

' 'Referring to the drawing, m; particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, the caster socket, according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention illus-" itrated thereinis preferably formed of cast metal and comprisesa central cylindrical pillar 10 ,cappedbya flangedtopportion 11 of circularoutline-and of a diametergreater thanthe pillar 10 and {slightly smaller than the inside diameter. of the tubularleg 12;:into which the socket is designed- -to be inserted. -At. the lower end of the pillar :there is. provided a.- fianged baseportion 13 corresponding-in diameter to the top portion 11 andhaving a projecting .iflange .14; at its lower 'part adapted to extend beneath and abut the lower end of thelege i .v

A-cylindrical-bore lfiextends upwardly through ,the socket; and is adaptedto receive the pintle, 16'

of the caster 17, tha-pintleebeing rotatablyretained by a, split-spring ring-l8 disposedin an annular groove. 19 in; the =pintle,; and which grips the wallof-the'base 15. =A filleted base flange 20 has bearing with. the. bevel bearing sur face 2l at the-lower end of the 'bo're15. Itwill-beunderstood that anydesired type; of casterand pintle may be employed, the one illustrated merely lacing shown by Way of-example. 1

vfIhe spring member, formed of -=fiat strip= spring stock and of inverted U shape, compr-ises out- -wardly;;bowed legs 22-22 and-a connecting top portion23,:the side legs beingbent inwardly just below the-top portion as at Z P-24, to formretaining means for cooperation vvith the top portionll of the socket, as will presently more fully appear, I

At diametricallyopposed points in, the peripheral edge of the toppor-tion 11 there are provided cut outs 25 25, of awidthto receive and position. the spring, the upper. surface of the top .being .-incline'd fora short 'distance inward ly in line with'the cut outs, as at,26-26, and the upper and-lower corners of the base walls of the cut outs being rounded. The'Width-of the top 23 cf the -spring,.-and of theindented retaining portions 24 24, is such that ;the spring will span the portions 24-, -24 will snap beneath-the top; 11 to'thusretain-the spring.

The lower ends of the spring are engaged and positioned for vertical 'slidingmovementin di- :ametricallyeopposed'vertically disposed cutouts 27--2'7:in the-base portionlB, .therdepth oizthese cut outs determining the .spreadof thespring side legs; which when the "socket 'is'out of the leg is n5 substanti'ally greater at thewidest :par't than the 7 interior idiameter iof th'e leg. Before attachment of the spring it will be understood thatfthe lowerend'saresprung closeritogether' than when attached as s'hown-in Fig.2.

Upon insertion in the leg the spring side legs will be compressed, their lower ends sliding down in the cut outs 2'7-27, as clearly indicated in Fig. 1. In this relation each side leg is securely held against displacement and under tension, so that even should a break occur in any other portion of the spring one leg at least will serve to effectually lretain the socket. The biting of the edges of the spring legs into the surface of the leg will effectually prevent turning of .the socket. While the socket illustrated is of circular shape and intended for a circular leg it will also function in a leg of polygonal form, and if desired the upper and lower portions of the socket may be of noncircular shape to fit any particular non-circular type ofleg.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have illustrated a larger diameter socket than that shown in Figs. 1 to 4. In this case the diameter of the pillar 10 is preferably the same, while the top portion 11 and base portion 13 are of an increased diameter to lit a larger diameter leg. The cut outs 25 are of greater depth with relation to the larger diameter portion 11, but the spring engaging portion between them is only slightly wider than this portion of the socket shown in Figsl to 4, so that the upper portion 23 andretaining portions 2424 of the same spring as employed in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4 may be engaged therewith. The cut outs 2727 in the base portion 13 are of substantially the same depth as those in the smaller diameter socket, so that the spring ends engaged therein will be spread to a greater extent than in the smaller diameter socket, and the bowed portions will project to a greater width than the interior diameter of the leg. In this case the-arcuate top 23 will be more nearly 'flat than in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4 and the retaining portions 24-24'will be more widely spaced due to the fact that the springing apart of the side legs takes place in the top portion 23. ,When inserted in the leg the bowed spring legs will be compressed and will function to retain the socket in the same manner as in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4. 0b viously any diameter sockets between that shown in Figs. 1 to 4 and that shown in Figs. 5 and 6 may be provided in a similar manner with the same size spring.

In Figs. 7 to 9 I'have shown a substantially smaller diameter'socket than that illustrated in Figs. l to 4. The pillar 28, which is of-a diameter slightly smaller than the tubular leg in which it is intended to be inserted, is provided with a flanged base 29 adapted to engage beneath the lower edge of the leg, and a cylindrical pintle receiving bore 30 extends upwardly therein, a beveled bearing surface 31 being provided at the lower end of the bore.

'At diametrically opposite sides the pillar is provided with vertically disposed flat surfaces 32--32, extending from a point spaced below the upper end of the pillar to a point spaced above the flanged base 29, thus forming projections at the upper and lower ends of these flat surfaces. The

upper end of the pillar is provided with an arcuate recess 33 extending transversely across the top from one flat surfaced side 32 to the other and of a width to receive and position the spring. At

the upper end of each flat surface the same is indented beneath the respective sides of the recess '33, as at 3434, to form spring retaining shoulders. .The lower portion of the pillar is provided with spring endretaining recesses 35-35 formed in continuation of the flat surfaces 32-32.

end of said insert member, and retaining por 'a connecting top portion adapted. to engageover positioned for vertical sliding movement in the recesses 3535; When engaged in the tubular leg these spring legs-will becompressed in substantially the same manner as described with reference to the other forms, and will function in the same way to retain the socket.

In Figs. 10 and 111 have shown a socket for somewhat larger diameter legs than that shown in Figs. '7- to 9, but in which the same spring is employed. In this'case the pillar 28 is provided at its upper end with a flange 39 of a diametento'jfit within the larger diameter leg, and adjacent the base flange 29 is provided with a stepped shoulder 46 0f a diameter corresponding to. that of the flange 39 and having recesses 41- 11 therein for receiving the spring leg ends. The springioo is engaged at its upper end with the upper end of the socket in the same manner as "in the 'form shown in Figs. '7 to 9, but the lowerends engaged in the recesses l1---l1 are spread to a greater extent to project the bowed springlegs to a greater 195 Width than the interior diameter of the .tubular leg into which the socket is to be inserted, so that they will be compressed when the socket is: inserted intheleg. ,7

I have illustrated anddescribed preferred and 1,10 satisfactory embodiments of the-invention, but it will be obvious thatchanges may be made therein, within the spirit and scope thereof, as

, taining means at opposite sides of the upper vend portion of said insert member, a retaining spring member comprising side legs, a connecting top portion adapted to engage over' the upper tions at each side adapted to engage said spring retaining means of the insert member to restrain vertical displacement of said spring member, said side legs having their lower ends bent inwardly toward each other whereby they. are out of con-.139 tact with the tubular leg when said socket "is inserted therein. Y 2.. A caster socket for. tubular legs, comprising an insert member having a caster pintle' receiving socket and adapted to. be inserted in the" lower end of a tubular leg, there; being a-pair of diametrically'opposed peripheral recesses-and downwardly. directed shoulders at opposite sides .of the upper end portion of .said insert, member,

a retaining spring member comprising side legs,

the upper end of said insert member and within said recesses to restrain rotarymovement, and indented retaining portions at each side adapted to engage beneath 1 said downwardly directed 145 shoulders of the insert member to restrain vertical displacement of said spring member. g r

3. A caster socket for tubular legs, comprising an insert member having a caster pintle-receiving socket and adapted to,be;inserted in theiisn lower end of a tubular leg, a pair of spring retaining means at opposite sides of the upper end portion of said insert member, a retaining spring member comprising side legs, a connecting top portion adapted to engage, over the upper end of said insert member, and retaining portions at each side adapted to engage said spring retaining means of the insert member to restrain verticaldisplacement of said spring means, said insert member being provided at its lower portion with oppositely disposed spring end positioning means adapted to be engaged'by the lower ends of said spring side legs to predeterminedly spread them with respect to each other. 7

4. A caster socket for tubular legs, comprising an insert member having a caster pintle receiving socket and adapted to be inserted in the lower end of a tubular leg, a pair of spring retaining means at-opposite sides of the upper end portion of said insert member, a retaining spring member comprising side legs, a connecting top portion adapted to engage over the upper end of said insert member, and retaining portions at each' sideadapted'to engage said spring retaining means of the insert member to restrain vertical displacement of said spring means, saidinsert member being provided at its lower portion with oppositely disposed spring end positioning means adapted to be engaged by the lower ends of said spring'side legs to predeterminedly spread them with respect to each other, said positioning means adapted to permit vertical sliding movement of said spring endstherein.

5. A caster socket for tubular legs, comprising an insert member having a caster'pintle receiving socket and adapted to be inserted in the lower end of a tubular leg, a pair of spring retaining means at opposite sides of the upper end portion of said insert member, a retaining spring member comprising side legs, a connecting top portion adapted to engage over the upper end of said insert member, and retaining portions at each side adapted to engage said-spring retaining means of the insert member torestrain vertical displacement of said spring means, said insert member being provided at its lower portion with oppositely disposed spring en'd positioning means adapted to be engaged by the lower ends of said spring side legs to predeter minedly'spread them with respect to each other, said positioning means adapted to restrain rotary movement of said spring member. I

6. A caster socket for tubular legs, comprising an insert member having a caster pintle receiving socket and adapted to be inserted in the lower end of a tubular leg, apair of spring retaining means at opposite sides of the upper 'end portion of said insert member, a retaining spring membercomprising side legs, a connecting top portion adapted to engage over the upper end of said insert member, and retaining por tions at each side adapted to engage said spring retaining means of the insert member to restrain vertical displacementof said spring means, said insert member being provided at its lower portion with oppositely disposed spring end positioning means adapted to be engaged by the lower ends of said spring side legs to predeterminedly spread'them with respect to each other, said positioning means adapted to restrain rotary movement of said spring 'member and permit vertical sliding movement of said'spring ends therein. l V

'7. A caster socket for tubular legs, comprising an insert member having va caster pintle receivsocket and adapted to be inserted in the lower end of a tubular leg,a pair of spring retaining means at opposite sides of the upper end portion of said insert member, a retaining spring member comprising side legs, a connecting top portion adapted to engage over the upper end of said insert member, and retaining portions at each side adapted to engage said spring retaining means of the-insert member to restrain vertical displacement of said spring means, said insert member being provided at its lower portion with oppositely disposed spring cally. extending recesses adapted to be engaged by the lower ends of said spring side legs to predeterminedly spread 'them with respect to each other, said positioning recesses adapted to restrain rotary movement of said spring member and permit vertical sliding movement of said spring ends therein. l

8. A caster socket for an insert member having tubular legs, comprising lower end of a tubular leg, there being a pair of diametrically opposed recesses and springretaine ing means at opposite sides of the upper end portion of said insert member, a retaining spring a caster pintle receiv-- ing socket and adapted to be inserted in the end positioning verti- I member comprising side legs, a connecting top portion adapted to engage over the upper end of ,said insert member and'within said recesses to restrain rotary movement, and retaining portions at each side adapted to engage said spring retaining means of the insert member to restrain vertical displacement of said spring member, said insert member being provided at its lower portion with oppositely disposed spring end posi-' tioning recesses disposed in the vertical plane of said first mentioned recesses adapted to be engaged by the lower ends of said spring side legs to predeterminedly spread them with respect to each other, said positioning recesses adapted to restrain rotary movement of said spring member and permit vertical sliding movement of said spring ends therein. I 7

9. A caster socket for tubular legs, comprising an insert member having a caster pintle receiving socket andadapted to be insertedin the lower end of the tubular leg .andincludingan upper lateral flange adapted to be engaged within the leg, a lower laterally extending portion also adapted to engage with the leg, a lower lateral flange adapted -tov engage beneath the end of the leg, and a reducedpillar portion between said upper lateral flange and said lower laterally extending portion, there being a pair of diametrically opposed recesses and downwardly directed shoulders at opposite sides of said upper lateral flange, a retaining spring member comprising side and permit vertical sliding movement of said spring ends therein;

' WALTER F. HEROLD. 

